Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris is willing to put his money where Elton Brand's mouth is, even if it means going into the luxury tax to surround Joel Embiid with the right talent.
The Sixers made two huge trades for two All-Star caliber players and, according to Brand, soon after the trade for Tobias Harris, plan to keep both in the offseason.
That proposition could make the Sixers' payroll skyrocket into the luxury tax, as Harris and Jimmy Butler are both eligible for a five-year deal worth approximately $190 million. Yet Harris is expected to be aggressive retaining the talent the organization traded assets for, and that would involve paying up mightily for it.
According to Sarah Todd of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Harris is willing to break into the tax to give this team a chance to crown itself as the king of the Eastern Conference.
Brand also noted the team will prioritize managing Embiid's health and minutes, while finding a usable backup to play behind him. It's likely that Embiid's new regular season regimen will force him to sit out a few games for rest, making a quality backup all the more prominent.
His current backup, Boban Marjanovic, who came over as part of the trade for Harris, is hoping to remain with the team.
“It’s hard to think about everything after last night,” he said, according to Mondo, translated by EuroHoops. “I really want to be here, I have gained great experience, I enjoy, I love the city and I feel every day that I spend here as a blessing, a great thing.”
The Sixers are facing a lot of questions heading into free agency, but Harris and Brand seem to align well as to how to proceed after a heart-wrenching 92-90 Game 7 loss that eliminated them from the playoffs on Sunday.
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